Wolverines Upended by Wildcats in Neutral-Site Contest

Saturday, February 24

San Diego, Calif. (Tony Gwynn Stadium)

1:00 PM PT

Michigan

2-3

Arizona

4-2

Arizona

Michigan

Jesse Franklin

Wolverines Upended by Wildcats in Neutral-Site Contest

2/24/2018 8:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» Freshman Jesse Franklin recorded his first career hit with a two-run single in the fourth.
» Left-handed pitcher Angelo Smith made his career debut for the Wolverines with a relief appearance in the ninth.
» Michigan is now 0-2 in the Tony Gwynn Legacy tournament and will face Cal Poly in the tournament finale on Sunday (Feb 25).

Site: San Diego, Calif. (Tony Gwynn Stadium)
Score: Arizona 9, Michigan 5
Records: U-M (2-3), ARIZ (4-2)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 25 -- vs. Cal Poly (San Diego, Calif.), 10 a.m. PST

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Despite putting runners on base in all but three innings, the University of Michigan baseball team (2-3) fell by a 9-5 score to Arizona (4-2) on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24) in the second game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy tournament at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Wolverines struck first when they plated a run in the bottom of the second for a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Dominic Clementi led off the inning with a walk, and a double by sophomore Christan Bullock put two men in scoring position. Redshirt freshman Marcus Chavez then sent a chopper to the shortstop that resulted in the out at first, but allowed Clementi to score.

Arizona answered with four runs in the top of the third inning on two walks, a hit batter and three run-scoring singles, to take a 4-1 lead.

Following one scoreless inning, Michigan rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and tied the score at 4. Junior Jonathan Engelmann and Clementi led things off with back-to-back walks and a one-out single by Chavez loaded the bases. Redshirt senior Hector Gutierrez then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Engelmann, and freshman Jesse Franklin followed with a two-run single to right field which tied the score. The base knock was the first of Franklin's career.

Michigan added a run for a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth as Chavez doubled, advanced to third on a Gutierrez single and scored on an Arizona balk.

The lead was short-lived, as a two-run homer over the right-field wall by Arizona's Alfonzo Rivas put the Wildcats back on top in the seventh inning, 6-5. Arizona added three runs in the top of the eighth to extend its lead to 9-5.

The Wolverines put runners on in the seventh, but were unable to score in the frame and the remainder of the game.

Sophomore left-hander Tommy Henry started on the mound for the Wolverines, and tossed five innings with three walks and five strikeouts. He surrendered four runs on just four hits.

Junior lefty William Tribucher tossed two innings of relief and allowed two runs on one hit while walking one. Freshman Ben Dragani and junior Jack Bredeson combined to pitch the eighth inning, and the pair surrendered three runs on one hit and three walks. Freshman Angelo Smith made his career debut in the ninth inning, and was the only Michigan pitcher that did not allow a run.

The Wolverine pitching staff surrendered eight hits, seven walks and struck out eight.

Michigan's hitters totaled seven hits and two stolen bases. Bullock and Chavez were the only Wolverines to record extra-base hits.

Michigan will return to play on Sunday (Feb. 25) to wrap up the Tony Gwynn Legacy tournament with a neutral-site contest against Cal Poly. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. PT at Tony Gwynn Stadium on the campus of San Diego State University.